Curriculum

Development
Bachelors of Education (Honours) Elementary
Session 1
Dr Kiran Hashmi
 The Curriculum:
Overview of Curriculum Development

• Unit 1: Introduction
• Concept and scope of curriculum
Story Time!!!
• There once was a king who wished for his son and sole heir to have a fine education. He sent servants out to post signs all over the
kingdom advertising for a teacher for the prince. The signs indicated that if the king found the teacher fit for such a weighty
responsibility, he would allow him to choose his own salary. Many people came from all over the kingdom to apply for the job.
After testing all the applicants on the breadth and depth of their knowledge, the king narrowed his choice to three wise men.
• He then asked each of the men how much they wanted to be paid and why they felt their services were worthy of that sum. The
first man said that he should be paid 10,000 gold coins a month because he was the smartest man in all the land and could give the
prince knowledge no one else had. He could reveal to him the secrets of the universe and the ideas of the world's greatest
philosophers.
• The second man said that he wanted 20,000 gold coins a month because he was the best teacher in all the land. He proclaimed that
he could get anyone to learn anything. He spoke of how he could discipline a child to do anything he wanted; he was not afraid
even of the prince.
• The third man asked only for room and board and enough money to support his family. He said that he knew he was smart but not
the smartest, and he knew he was a good teacher but not the best. He said that he should be chosen because it would be an honor
to serve the king, the prince, and all the people of the land. He said that he wanted the next ruler of his beloved kingdom to be just
as wise as his father.
• The king, of course, chose the third man … and that is why teachers are paid such low salaries. All joking aside, this parable
hopefully reminds us of what it means to be a teacher. To some people, teaching is a job and a paycheck; to others, it represents a
place to exert power, a lofty platform from which to dispense knowledge. The finest teacher, however, realizes that he or she is in
the classroom to help students achieve their full potential, in whatever form that may take.
Moral
• What do you think is the moral of this story?
• All joking aside, this parable hopefully reminds us of what it means to be a
teacher. To some people, teaching is a job and a paycheck; to others, it
represents a place to exert power, a lofty platform from which to dispense
knowledge. The finest teacher, however, realizes that he or she is in the
classroom to help students achieve their full potential, in whatever form that
may take.
• How is it related to the course you are studying?

• Share your responses.

Question to Ponder
10 minutes

• Why Study Curriculum Development?

• As a teacher
• As a researcher
• As a student
• As a parent
• As a citizen
• Any other reason

• LET’S SHARE!!!
Conception of Curriculum
• What is curriculum for you?
• Think and create your own definition
• Share with the class

• Curriculum is
• something determined by experts and authorities.
• There is no right curriculum.
• Curriculum should reflect the real world, be practical, of use.
• There are many curricula we can learn and negotiate
Circle Time
• Roundtable
• Lets watch a video and highlight the main points from there.
• ..\Curriculum Development-M.Phil
\Session 1\Curriculum Development - An Introduction.mp4

• Students to talk about what intrigues, bothers, confuses them about

the video shared with them.
 Curriculum Development
• Group Task:
• Discuss in groups and create either a picture, model, definition or prose on the
following topics that highlights the differences and similarities.
• Curriculum
• Syllabus
• Course Outline
• Course guide
• Scheme of studies

• Prepare a presentation of 2 minutes and share with the class.

Definitions
• Curriculum refers to the overall content, taught in an educational system or a course
• Syllabus is set for a particular subject. Unlike curriculum, which covers a particular
course of study or a program. Syllabus is prepared by teachers.
• A course outline is a document that benefits students and instructors. It is an
essential piece when designing any course. The course outline has a few purposes
• Course guide  preliminary prospectus, red herring. a first draft of a prospectus; must
be clearly marked to indicate that parts may be changed in the final prospectus.
• a scheme of work is a guideline that defines the structure and content of an academic
course. ... The scheme of work is usually an interpretation of a specification or
syllabus and can be used as a guide throughout the course to monitor progress
against the original plan.
Relationship of Curriculum
• Task
• Review the given curriculum in your group
• Identify the differences between curriculum, standards, instruction
and assessment.
• Create a poster on the relationship between curriculum, standards,
instruction and assessment.
• Present it in the class.
Definitions
Curriculum refers to the means and materials with Standards- level of quality and attainment
which students will interact for the purpose of
achieving identified educational outcomes.

Instruction- the activities of educating or instructing; Assessment- the action of assessing someone or
activities that impart knowledge or skill something.
Curriculum Development
• What is Curriculum Development for you?
• Write your points and share with your partner.
• Share with the class.

• Curriculum Development is :
• The developmental process of constructing knowledge and experience in such
a way that it will increase the ability of the student to grow in spiritual and
emotional maturity as well as in academic excellence.
Characteristics of Curriculum Development

• Think and write, what according to you could be the characteristics of

curriculum development?
• List them down
• Share with the class
 Elements and Approaches of Curriculum
Development

• Think again and come up with the elements of curriculum development

• List them down

• Now think of all the possible approaches you think are there in curriculum
development
• List them down

• Whole Class Discussion

Principles of Curriculum Development
In your groups, discuss the following questions and share with the class:
Principles of Curriculum: Whole truth, partial truth and hypotheses
1. In what ways is today’s curriculum suitable for the time?
2. In what ways in today’s curriculum not suitable for the time?
3. What are some curriculum principles derived from common sense?
4. Are there any curriculum developments that have been based on whole truth? If yes, give
examples.
5. Are there any curriculum developments that have been based on false premise? If yes,
give examples.

6. Lets Share
Video Time!
• Let’s watch a video
• Curriculum Development - An Introduction.mp4

• Write all the possible elements, approaches and ideas shared in the video
• Think and analyse to what extent do you agree with the content of the video
• To what extent do you see the application or implication of the content in
your school context?
Debate
Groups to be divided into two groups

1. Curriculum development is done with the inclusion of teachers, parents and

students

2. Curriculum development is a national prerogative. Society is not needed in its

development
Individual Whiteboards
• Write today’s learning from the class on the white board.
Reading Reflection
• Read the given article and prepare a reading reflection for the net
class

• Judith Howard curriculum development- Reading.pdf